EXPRESSED BREAST MILK OR FORMULA FEEDING
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Manual or electric breast pump
- Feeding bottles with teats (nipples)
- Bottle warmer
- Sterilizer for sterilizing feeding bottles and nipples
HOW MUCH TO FEED?
FIRST 7 DAYS OF LIFE
- Feeding chart first 7 days of life in a full-term baby, weighing 3 kg or more at birth, calculated based on birth weight of the baby.
| Day of Life | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approximate mL/kg Body Weight/Day | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90-100 | 110-120 | 120-140 | 140-150 |
How to use the table:
If baby’s birth weight is 3.4 kg, then daily requirement would be 3.4 x 60 on day 1, 3.4 x 70 on day 2 and so on. So for example, on day 1, this would be 3.4 x 60 = 204 ml/day – if this is divided into 8 feeds in 24 hours, it would work out to be approximately 25 ml per feed, if divided onto 12 feeds in 24 hours, it would be 17 ml per feed so, one should plan to feed 17-25 ml per feed, depending on how much and how frequently the baby feeds. Similarly on subsequent days.
FEEDING FROM 8TH DAY OF LIFE, AND THEREAFTER UNTIL SIX MONTHS OF AGE
| Age in Months | 1-3 Months | 3-6 Months |
|---|---|---|
| mL/kg Body Weight/Day | 150 | 120 |
Calculate as shown in the example given in the first 7 days of life. As a general rule of thumb:
- Whatever is the baby’s weight in kg (rounded off) is the number of ounces of milk per feed – for example a 5 kg baby will be able to consume 5 ounces or 150 ml per milk feed – the maximum volume of feed an infant can take at one go, is about 240 ml / feed when the baby reaches around 8-9 kg body weight
- Generally the infant will be able to consume approximately 1000-1200 mL milk per 24 hours between 3-6 months of age